Riverside fun: 在首爾漢江旁跟愛侶吃炸雞喝啤酒吧！

HF Crewon October 9, 2014 at 10:14 am

Han river is referred as the heart, the ‘soul’ of Seoul. It crosses Seoul in half, to north and south. Seoul city government designated 12 specific areas along Han river as parks for leisure and fun activities. Each one of them has its unique features, offering different forms of leisure to Seoul citizens. It is not that hard to see many people enjoying outdoor activities, or mumbling on ‘chi-maek (chicken and beer)’ at the park. Here are top 5 things to do at Han river.

01 Chicken and Beer （雞和啤酒）

Han river park is the perfect area to go for some ‘Chi-maek’ time, meaning chicken and beer combination. If you’ve only had Korean BBQ, it’s time to try some Korean fried chicken. Korean fried chicken comes in plain or with sauce, and you can order half of each. There are many fried chicken sellers at Han river park, so if you’re strolling along the river, you’ll occasionally get confronted with them. Prices are about the same for each brand, but the delivery time might be delayed, so wait with patience if you ever do so. Han river is also good for picnics, so bring your picnic bag along with a mat to lie down on, and a book to read. Sounds like a nice relaxing day!

02 Flea Market (跳蚤市場)

One of the 12 Han river parks, Ttukseom, offers a flea market. It is held every Saturday and Sunday in the afternoon. Products range from used clothing to electronic goods. Admission is free, even for the sellers. A portion of the money the sellers collect go for a good cause, so might be worth a visit. Remember to haggle it down. One thing, Korean sellers and buyers don’t call bubbled-up prices or do extensive haggling. The items are all priced at a normal range.

03 Outdoor sports 戶外運動

Sports paradise might be the best way to describe Han river park. Offering a large range of sports facilities, the most-enjoyed sport at the Han river park is biking. There are multiple bike stands, and with a cheap price, you can easily rent a bike and enjoy riding on the bike for hours. There are twin bikes too, so if you’re on a date, this might be an option if you are okay with cute cheesy dates!

04 Water sports (水上運動)

Han river park is located along the river, so it should be no surprise that this park offers great water sports facilities. In summer, some of the park branches open swimming pools from July to August right next to the river, and there are aquatic leisure sports centers offering surf board, water ski, windsurfing, jet ski, yacht, water motorcycle and water slides. Make the most out of it in summer.

05 Night view (夜景)

Seoul never sleeps, emitting blazing lights from neon signs. If you are tired of the everyday party-all-night nightlife, Han river’s beautiful night view might be a nice escape from the busy city. In fact, the Banpo Rainbow Fountain offers a premium light show along the river. During 15 minutes of its show time, the fountain frolics in accordance with the music. Show times range in between 7:30 and 9pm. There are day shows too, but the night show with the pretty night view offers a romantic experience.

Han river park can offer the best and the most in summer. Koreans often come to the river and camp there to escape from the urban heat. It might be a nice idea to enjoy a lazy afternoon for a picnic, or an adventurous day full of sport activities at Han river park. Enjoy!